Ox-yoke



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. BUR-NS (No Model.)

OX YOKE.

Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

%NTORI WITNESSES 4. CAZHWVI (No Model.)

- H. BURNS.

0X YOKE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 8, 1885.

WITNESSES 0(. Qnm, Q- c.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

HAYS BUR-NS, OF DOUBLE SPRINGS, ALABAMA.

OX-YOKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,052, dated March 3, 1885.

Application filed October 1, 1884. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAYS BURNS, of Double Springs, Winston county, Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ox-Yokcs,of which the following is a specification.

The first part of my invention relates to means for connecting the bows with the yokebar; and the second part of my invention relates to means for connecting and disconnecting the yoke and the vehicle-tongue.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view showing the yoke connected with the tongue; Fig. 2, a side view of the end of the tongue showing the devices for connecting and disconnecting the yoke, and also showing the yoke partly in section. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the connecting and dis connecting devices. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a part of the yoke, showing the bows locked in place by their securing-bolts. Fig. 5 is a similar "iew showing the securing-bolts withdrawn, so that the bow may be separated from the yoke frame or bar; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing the housing or boxing in which the bolts are carried.

The ends of the bow B are passed up vertically through the yoke-bar A in the ordinary way, and are provided on their inner faces with locking-shoulders b. Bolts 0, carried in a boxing or housing, D, mounted on the upper face of the yoke-bar A, between the. ends I) b of the bow, are caused to project from the housing to engage with the shoulder b of the bow and securely hold it in place, as shown in Fig. 4. The bolts are normally thrust outwardly by a block, E, having inclined ends, which work against the inner ends of the bolts, as will be described. Coiled springs 0, which are connected with shoulders d on the under side of the top plate of the housing D, and with upright lugs or projections on the inner ends of the bolts, tend normally to retract the bolts into the position indicated in Fig. 5. The housing '1) is formed, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, of an upper and lower plate, between which the bolts 0 slide. The lugs or projections d on the under face of the top plate are embraced by longitudinal vertical flanges d on the bottom plate. The

top and bottom plates are secured together by screws, which pass through apertures in the flanges d into the lugs d, as clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The bolts 0, as will. be plain from Figs. 4 and 5, slide between the bottom plate and the lugs d. The inner ends of the bolts 0 are preferably extended at 0 beyond the vertical lugs with which the springs c are connected,and said extensions are bifurcated, so as to embrace a fiat-sided block, E, having inclined ends, which slope from the base of the block inwardly. A socket, F, is formed in the yoke-bar A for the reception of the block E when pushed down into the position indicated in Fig. 5. A post or projection, e, on the under side of the block Eprojects into a well or socket formed in the bar A, in

which well a coiled spring, 0, is placed,which tends normally to elevate the block,as clearly shown in Fig. 4.. When the block is elevated, as in Fig. 4, its inclined ends acting on the bolts 0 press them out into engagement with the shoulders b on the how, so that the bow is firmly locked in place in the yoke. WVhen the block E is thrust downwardly, however, its inclined ends permit the bolts O to be pressed inwardly by the coiled springs 0, so that the bow may be readily detached from the yokebar.

To raise and lower the block E to lock or unlock the how, I preferably employa key, K, having an enlarged end, k, which is swiveled in the block E, as shown in Fig. 5. A lateral projection, is, on the side of the key K passes through the aperature k in the top plate when the key is thrust down to depress the block, and when turned as shown in Fig. 5 securely holds the block in its depressed position.

When it is desired to lock the bow on the yoke, it is only necessaryto rotate the key until the projection k registers with the aperture if, when the spring a will elevate the block. This device is one of considerable simplicity, not at all liable to get out of order, and afiords a ready means for yoking and unyoking the oxen.

The yoke is provided with a coupling-ring, L, between the bows, as usual, and this yoke is connected and disconnected with the ve hicle-tongue M in the following manner: A latch, N, is pivoted in a strap, N, bolted to the tongue, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The under face of this latch in front of its pivot is provided with a couple of apertures or sockets, n, for the reception of the ends of the bolts nwhen that end of thelatch is thrown down, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The bolts 11. a are shown as serving to bolt the plates 0 O to the upper face of the pole. The ends of the plates 0 O are placed sufficiently far apart to form a socket for the reception of the coupling-ring L, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. WVhen the coupling-ring L is slipped over the latch N and placed in said socket, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, the depression. of the forward end of the latch will hold it securely. The rear end of the latch N is cut away at 0, so as to form a socket for the reception ofawedge-shaped sliding locking-bar, P. Thisbar slides in bearings in a bracket, Q ,'on the upper faceof the tongue, andis normally thrustforward by a coiled spring, q, as clearly shown in the drawings.

With the parts in'the position shownin Fig. 3= thatis, with the locking-bolt retracted and the rear end of the pivoted latch M pressed downupon it -'the pressure of the end of the locking-bolt upon the shoulder on the pivoted latch-N will holdit in the position shown in that figure. If in coupling the yoke to the tongue therin'g L now he slipped over the forward en d of the latch N into proper position, and the forward end of the latch N depressed into the position shown in Fig. 2, the wedgeshaped locking-bolt]? will be forced forward under the rear end'of the latch N, as clearly I to thepole.

may be done from the vehicle by means of a rope,'Q, so that the driver from his seat on the wagorrcan unhitch'the oxen whendesired.

This construction affords a secure coupling between the-yoke and tongue, and a very simple and efficient means of disconnecting them at the will of the driver.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination oftheyoke-bar, the bow having the shouldered ends, sliding lockingbolts, and the wedge-block.-

' 2. The combination of the yoke-bar, the bow having shouldered ends, the sliding lockingbolts, the wedge-block, and the springs which act on the bolts.

3. The combination of the yokebar, the bow having the shouldered ends, thesliding-lock ing-bolts, the springs which act thereon,'the

wedge-block, the spring which acts on the 7. The combination of the pole, the pivoted latch M, the locking-bolt P, and a rope for operating said bolt from the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HAYS BURNS. Witnesses:

.DAVID CAR OLL,

A. HARLIND. 

